Child trafficking has been at crisis levels in our nation for years. With four years of an open border under the Biden regime, it’s not surprising just how many children have been exploited.
Thanks to the cooperation of federal and local law enforcement, over 30 missing kids have been rescued from trafficking operations in Texas.
The mission named “Operation Lightning Bug” is a joint operation that was put together by the US Marshals based in Texas, along with the San Antonio Police Department, and their effort to find and identify at-risk children and help facilitate rescue and recovery efforts.
Federal and local authorities rescued more than 30 missing children and uncovered multiple trafficking operations targeting vulnerable youth during a coordinated crackdown across Texas.
The effort, centered in San Antonio, led to arrests, felony warrants and several new investigations under a joint mission known as “Operation Lightning Bug.”
Teams from the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) out of San Antonio, Del Rio, Midland, and Pecos joined forces with San Antonio Police Department’s Missing Persons Unit, Special Victims Unit, Street Crimes Unit and covert operatives. Together, they combed through Texas and national crime databases to identify at-risk juveniles and coordinate recovery efforts.
The efforts and cooperation from both federal and local law enforcement showed significant results. Three people were arrested for harboring runaways, five new investigations for child trafficking were started, nine felony warrants were carried out, 30 missing kids were located, six children who were sex trafficked were saved and were referred to support services, and over 120 children returned home voluntarily.
San Antonio Police Department’s Special Victim’s Unit took time with each recovered child to determine if they were victimized and were going to be placed in long term care with agencies like HHS to make sure they were safe.
The US Marshals has made it a high priority to keep the children safe and made it one of their primary concerns. It was reflected in a statement made by US Marshall Susan Pamerleau.
“The safety of our children is the safety of our communities, and justice demands that we protect those who cannot protect themselves,” Pamerleau said. “Through Operation Lightning Bug, we reaffirm our promise to safeguard the most vulnerable and strengthen the safety of our communities.” Fox News reported of Marshall Pamerleau.
The US Marshals also have the authority under the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015 to rescue children who are missing or are in danger.
The Institute to Combat Trafficking CEO Kirsta Leeberg-Melton told Fox News Digital that Texas and the nation have been dealing with trafficking for a long time.
She also explained that traffickers look for kids who have unstable home lives, which could include a lack of food, a place to live, and minimal family support.
Leeberg-Melton also explained that traffickers will use technology to victimize children. They use it for buyers and victims.
The Trump administration has been working continuously to protect kids by targeting traffickers and by making it more difficult for them to operate across the border. The President sealed the border on his first day in office.